Bird Gardens
With our bird gardens, the Los Angeles Zoo is inviting our wild, feathered neighbors—and migratory visitors—to make themselves at home. You can join us by creating a bird-friendly garden at your home, too.
Native birds are in trouble. “Flying south for winter” today involves avoiding predators, pesticides, windows, and more. Many birds don’t survive this long journey, let alone the return trip. The Los Angeles Zoo is helping birds with our bird gardens, and you can too with simple changes to your porch, patio, or yard!
- Reduce the lawn and add some plant variety. Plants provide birds with shelter from harsh weather and predators, building materials for their nests, and food from fruits, seeds, and nectar.
- Use logs, bushes, and decaying plant matter to give birds protection and attract insects, an important food source for many birds.
- Include water for bathing and drinking.
Bird Gardens at the L.A. Zoo
California Garden
Birds you might see here
- Acorn Woodpecker
- Western Scrub Jay
- American Bushtit
Plants
Toyon
Toyon occurs in chaparral communities throughout much of California. In 2012 Toyon was named the official native plant of the City of Los Angeles.
White Sage
Native to the southern coast ranges and inner mountains of California, this plant was used by Native American for food, medicinal, and spiritual purposes.
California Fuchsia
Found throughout the Southwest, this plant is an important nectar source for hummingbirds due to its late-season blooms.
Baja California Garden
Birds you might see here
- Mourning Dove
- White-Crowned Sparrow
- Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Plants
Bottle Palm
This large succulent is native to the semi-desert areas of central to southeastern Mexico. It provides shelter and nesting sites for birds.
Elephant Bush
This member of the cashew family is endemic to the Baja California, Mexico peninsula. It offers perching and food for small birds.
Elephant Tree
Related to frankincense, this aromatic shrub is found in arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. It provides perching and food for birds.
North America Garden
Birds you might see here
- Spotted Towhee )
- Northern Mockingbird
- Black-Headed Grosbeak
Plants
California Coffeeberry
This shrub occurs in a variety of habitats throughout California, the Southwestern U.S., and Baja California, Mexico. Its berries are an important food source for wildlife.
Lindheimer’s Beeblossom
The native range of this plant is from southeastern Texas east into to Louisiana and south into Mexico. It is an important food source for birds and pollinators.
Hummingbird Sage
Native to southern and central California, the attractive flowering spikes of this sage are an important food source for hummingbirds.
Australasia Garden
Birds you might see here
- Bewick’s Wren
- American Robin
- California Towhee
Plants
Dwarf Bottlebrush Tree
Most bottlebrush species occur in eastern Australia, from the tropical north to the temperate south. It is an important source of nectar for birds and pollinators.
Parney’s Cotoneaster
Native to Asia, this shrub adapts to a wide range of conditions. Clusters of small white flowers produce bright red berries in fall and winter–an important food source for birds.
Ohi’a Lehua
This flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family is found throughout the Pan Pacific region. It is an important source of nectar for birds and pollinators.
Africa Garden
Birds you might see here
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Hooded Oriole
- Rufous-Crowned Sparrow
Plants
Pincushion Flower
Native to the hot Mediterranean climate of Tunisia in northern Africa, both birds and insect pollinators are attracted to this shrub’s lavender flowers.
Bird of Paradise
Native to the eastern coast of South Africa, this plant has become a popular landscape selection in dry regions around the world. It is the official flower of the City of Los Angeles.
Snowball Viburnum
Native to North Africa and the Mediterranean region of Europe, this shrub prefers shady, moist areas but tolerates dry conditions as well.
South America Garden
Birds you might see here
- Black Phoebe
- Dark-Eyed Junco
- Hermit Thrush
Plants
Red Powder Puff
This densely branched shrub is native to South America. Under the right conditions, it can bloom year round, providing food and shelter for birds.
Sword Fern
This fern is a common landscape plant native to the Americas. It provides birds with hiding areas and nesting materials.
Coahuila Sage
This beautiful sage comes from the mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the province of Coahuila, Mexico. The purple flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.